Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs,
Science and Technology
Issue 4 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Tuesday, February 10, 1998
(5)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day, in Room 705, Victoria Building, at 10:00 a.m., the Chairman, the Honourable Lowell Murray, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Chalifoux, Cohen, Cools, Lavoie-Roux, LeBreton, Maheu, Murray and Pépin (8).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Jessiman (1).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young, Research Officer.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
WITNESS:
Philip Epstein, Q.C., family lawyer.
The Chairman informed the committee that Jill Anne Joseph, Committee Clerk, was on maternity leave after the birth of a healthy baby girl. Nadine S. Huggins, Acting Committee Clerk, was introduced and welcomed.
The Chairman requested that members remain after the scheduled witness was heard in order to discuss a legislative budget for fiscal year 1997-98 and a budget amendment for the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on November 5, 1997, the committee resumed its consideration of the implementation and application of Chapter 1, An Act to amend the Divorce Act, the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act, the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act and the Canada Shipping Act, and the associated Federal Child Support Guidelines (for complete text of Order of Reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 3, dated December 16, 1997).
Mr. Philip Epstein, Q.C., family lawyer from Ontario, made a statement to the committee and answered questions.
The Honourable Senator Cohen moved -- That the following budget be submitted to Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration for approval:
| Professional and Other Services
|
$5,500.00
|
| Other expenditures
|
l,000.00
|
| Total
|
$6,500.00
|
The question being put on the motion, after debate it was agreed.
The Chairman informed the members that the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs needed approval from the main committee in order to hire for professional services from their emergency funds of $5,000.
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Maheu -- That the subcommittee be approved to hire for professional services from its emergency funds.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was agreed with the understanding that approval extends to money that may already have been spent by the subcommittee.
The Chairman raised the issue of what time Wednesday committee meetings should be held. It was agreed that meetings should be scheduled "when the Senate rises and not before 3:30 p.m.", this is a change from "when the Senate rises and not before 4:00 p.m.".
At 11:45 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, February 17, 1998
(6)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day, in Room 705, Victoria Building, at 10:00 a.m., the Chairman, the Honourable Lowell Murray, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cohen, Cools, Ferretti Barth, Forest, Jessiman, LeBreton and Murray (7).
Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Lavoie-Roux (1).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young, Research Officer.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on November 5, 1997, the committee resumed its consideration of the implementation and application of Chapter 1, An Act to amend the Divorce Act, the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act, the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act and the Canada Shipping Act, and the associated Federal Child Support Guidelines (for complete text of Order of Reference see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 3, dated December 16, 1997).
WITNESS:
From the Saskatchewan Department of Justice:
Betty Ann Pottruff, Q.C., Director, Policy Planning and Evaluation Branch.
The Chairman introduced and welcomed the witness and invited her to make a statement to the committee.
Ms Pottruff made a statement, answered questions and tabled a document with the Clerk of the Committee entitled "Status Report of the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Task Force on the Implementation of the Child Support Reforms, February 1998" being Exhibit No. 5900-1.36/S2-SS-1-8-4 "1".
The Chairman thanked the witness and adjourned the meeting.
At 11:30 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
OTTAWA, Tuesday, February 24, 1998
(7)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day, in Room 705, Victoria Building, at 10:00 a.m., the Chairman the Honourable Lowell Murray, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cohen, Cools, Kenny, Forest, Haidasz, Jessiman, LeBreton, Maheu and Murray (9).
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Kate Dunkley, Research Officer.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the Order of Reference adopted by the Senate on November 5, 1997, the committee resumed consideration of the implementation and application of Chapter 1, An Act to amend the Divorce Act, the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act, the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act and the Canada Shipping Act, and the associated Federal Child Support Guidelines (for complete text of Order of Reference see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 3, dated December 16, 1997).
WITNESSESS:
From the Canadian Bar Association:
Jennifer Cooper, Q.C., Chairman, Guidelines Implementation Committee, Family Law Section;
Tamra Thomson, Director, Legislation and Law Reform.
Lynn Reierson, Family Law Practitioner.
The Chairman invited Ms Tamra Thomson from the Canadian Bar Association to make a statement.
Ms Thomson introduced the Canadian Bar Association, the Family Law Section of the Association and Ms Jennifer Cooper. She answered questions from the floor.
Ms Jennifer Cooper, Q.C., continued the statement for the Canadian Bar Association and answered questions.
The Canadian Bar Association agreed to provide a list of Manitoba case law dealing with enforcement. They also agreed to provide further views on the issue of access to Revenue Canada data and on the first recommendation of their brief dealing with the independent collection of research data.
The Chairman thanked the representatives from the Canadian Bar Association and invited the second witness, Ms Lynn Reierson, family law practitioner, to make a statement.
Ms Reierson made a statement, answered questions and tabled a list of Nova Scotia case law dealing with child support guidelines decisions entitled, "Memorandum dated February 23, 1998 from Lara to R/S Lawyers and Nancy regarding Case Law Summary -- Post-Secondary Education Costs", being Exhibit No. 5900-1.36/S2-SS-1-8-4 "2" and a case law summary dealing with post-secondary education costs entitled, "Appendix B, Additional Child Support Guidelines Decisions", being Exhibit No. 5900-1.36/S2-SS-1-8-4 "3".
The Chairman thanked the witness and informed the committee that the Honourable Senator Forest had an issue to raise before the meeting was adjourned.
The Honourable Senator Forest informed the committee that the Honourable Senator Bosa is ill and will not be able to return to his duties. She indicated a need for an acting deputy chairman.
The Chairman asked if he may proceed with the election of an acting deputy chairman. It was agreed.
The Honourable Senator Forest moved that the Honourable Senator Kenny be Acting Deputy Chairman of the committee. The question being put on the motion, it was agreed.
The Chairman welcomed the Honourable Senator Kenny as Acting Deputy Chairman.
At 11:35 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chairman.
ATTEST:
Nadine S. Huggins
Acting Clerk of the Committee